Automobile top



June 2, 1931. E. P. DU PONT AUTOMOBILE TOP Filed Dec. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-SheeI l @Imm Q2u/0@ 22,# M v7 June 2, 1931. E, P, DU PONT 1,808,298

AUTOMOBILE TOP Filed Dec. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 2, 1931 PATENT .QPF-1 ELEUTHERE PAUL nu PONT, or MONTCHANTN, DELAWARE y AUTOMOBILE trof Application led December 4, 1928 Serial NO. 323,654.

This invention relates to a folding top for automobiles and is particularly adapted to'V the construction of a top for a sportmodel roadster.

It is desirable, for hot weather or the like,

- to provide a top for an automobile which may lare tubular guideways be substantially entirely removed but which may be readily put up in case of storm or used during cold weather. Folding tops heretofore constructed when folded have generally given a bulky appearance to the rear of the seat of an automobile, whereas it is desirable to eliminate the relatively unsightly folded top to as great an extent as possible.

The object of the present invention 1s aC- cordingly to provide a foldable top which, when in folded position, will be substantially invisible, those parts which do show appearing as portions of the body of the automobile. A further object is to provide a top of this character which may sembled ortaken down.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an automobile showing the top in its raised position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing details of construction of the top frame, the. parts being in expanded position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showingl the parts in collapsed position. f

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the automobile showing the top frame with the cover removed.

At 2 is indicated the body of asport model roadster having a rearwardly sloping wind shield 3. Formed in the body 2 directly behind the front seat, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, 4. In each of these guideways is mounted la tubular upright frame member 6, lthe upper portion of which projects asan upright post 8 forming av continuation of the rear of tube 6.` Secured to the upper ends of posts 8 is a cross member or bow 10 curved as shown in Fig. 4.

be very readily y as- 14, 16, 22 and 24 are arranged to form arrectangular linkage so that links 18 and 2O eX- tend forwardly and upwardly iii-parallelism and also extend in parallelism when the frame'is collapsed. The various pivots Aare provided with engaging stop faces 27Ywhich prevent clockwise movement loflinks 18 and 2() from the extreme position shown in Fig/2. When the linkage described is extended, as shown in Fig. 2, link 185engages the top cutaway portion of tube 6 at 29. Thus the frame is maintained in position yagainst downward stresses imparted to cross bow 28 by the cover 30 which is secured over the top of bows- 10 and28 and to the wind shield and body ofthe car behind thev front sides by means of Isnap buttons or the like 32 and 84. i

lli/*hen in expanded position, as shown in Fig. 2, tubular members 6 are supported in projected positions from kguideways 4Fby means of wing-nuts 9 which extend throughl 1 thev guideways and bind against they tubes.

tube 6. The cover 'is then stretched overthe4 If it is desired to collapse the top,- thecovei` is removed, folded and stowed'away in some' convenient portion of the car. Linksg118 'i and 2() are rotatedabout pivots 14 and y16 bringing them into substantially longitudinal alignment with plungers 12. and plungers 12 and the links may thenbe droppeddown into tubular upright members V6. Byfreleasing wing-nuts 9,1 tubular Ymember 6. may-f vbe dropped into guideways 4. In this Vway the parts are brought to the positions illustrated in Fig-3. VBows 10 and 28 are preferably curved to conform tothe upper surface of the body behindithe front seat'so thatv whenthe parts are inthe collapsed Vposition shown in Fig. 3, these bows appear asmoulding and partsof the body, beingsubstantially hidden y Vbehind the upwardly'projectingl back ofthe seat. y r o M What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: n

1. In an automobile, a plurality of tubular guideways, tubular upright frame members slidably mounted in said guideways, a cross j' of said upright member connecting the tops of said upright frame members, a plunger mounted in each frame members, a plurality of links pivoted a second cross member pivoted to the links, whereby the plungers andlinks may be collapsed and received Withinsthe tubular upright frame members, and the tubular up,- right frame members may be received Within the tubular guideways.

2. Inan automobile, afplur'alityof tubular:

guideways, tubular upright frame members slidably mounted in said guideways,a cross vmember connecting the tops of said upright frame members, a plunger mounted in each ofsaid upright frame members, a plurality of links pivoted to each of the plungers,`a second cross; member pivotedAA tothe links, whereby the plungers and links may be collapsed and received-Within the tubular upright frame members, andthetubular upright framemembersmay be received Within the tubular guideways, means for holding the tubular upright members projeeted from the guideways, means for holding the other frame members in expanded position, and a Cover for the frame. Y ,Y 3. In an automobile, a plurality of tubular guideways, tubular upright `iframe members slidably mounted'in said guideways, a 'cross member connecting the tops lof said upright frame members, aplunger mounted in each of saidupright frame members, a plurality of links pivoted to eachof the plungers, a second cross member pivoted to the links, Whereby-the plungersand links may be collapsed andv received Within the tubular upright frame members, v'and the tubular upright framefmembers may be received Within the tubular guideways, means forV holding the tubular upright members projected from the guideways, means for limiting pivotal movement of the links relative to the plungers whereby they rest in expanded position on the tubular members, and a cover for the frame.-

4. In an automobile, apluralityoli-tubular guideWays, tubular uprightj frame members slidably. mounted in said guideways, a cross member connecting the tops of said upright frame members, a plunger mounted in Veach of said upright frame members, and a collapisible frame pivoted tothe plunger and adapted to extend horizontally, said frame being at least partially receivable Within the `tubular,upright frame members. e

In testimony'of which invention, I have hereunto-set my hand, at Wilmington, Dela- Ware, on this thirtieth day oNovember, 1928..

ELEUTHERE PAULDU PONT.

to each of the plungers, and 

